An Insider's Thoughts on Getting the Best Results From Your Consultants

November 07, 2010

Otherwise Occupied – Transitions in Consulting

For some time now, I’ve been leading a double life. Nothing that would raise any eyebrows, I’ve simply been devoting myself to two very different jobs.

While I’ve continue to work with clients that seek my advice on dealing with consulting firms, I’ve been spending the majority of my working hours in a second role, that of Vice President of Professional Services at Mosaica Partners, a rapidly growing consulting firm that specializes in the area of health information exchange (HIE) formation.

At Mosaica, I’ve had the opportunity to help the firm’s clients – the federal government, states, regions communities and even vendors of HIE related products – make significant strides in their quest to build the organizations and infrastructure that will enable the sharing of patients’ health information electronically. It’s important work. It’s also been both exhilarating and rewarding.

At Mosaica I have been able to return to one of my passions, building a first class consulting team and developing consulting methods, practices and even specific consulting offerings – in this case, tailored to the health information exchange movement that began in earnest with the release of federal funds under ARRA in February 2009.

Working side by side with Laura Kolkman, the president of Mosaica Partners, I’ve just finished writing “The Health Information Exchange Formation Guide,” which is scheduled to be published in January by the Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS). As co-authors, Laura focused on the need for, and benefits of, HIE and I contributed the consultant’s perspective. Together, we have written a book that will help groups of interested individuals move from an idea to a functioning organization by following a step by step approach that’s based on our extensive research into leading practices related to HIE formation. A number of our colleagues and clients have contributed their thoughts to the book and early reviews indicate it will find a receptive audience.

As my workload at Mosaica has increased, I have come to the conclusion that it is where I can have the greatest impact. As such, I have decided to close Consulting Intelligence and concentrate my efforts full time in the area of health information exchange.

To the team that helped me establish Consulting Intelligence, and all the clients we served, I extend a sincere thank you for six wonderful years.

There’s a strong possibility that I’ll return to blogging on a more regular basis and will let you know in this space.